Julian Joseph Tencza

MERIDEN - Julian Joseph Tencza, 94, husband of the late Victoria (Chmura) Tencza, died on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at the Harrison at Heritage in Fort Worth, Texas.

Born in Meriden on Jan. 5, 1922, he was the son of the late Apolonia and John Tencza. He resided in Meriden all of his life and graduated from Meriden Public Schools. Mr. Tencza was employed by New Departure prior to his retirement. He was a proud veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Army Air Corps and retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force. He was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Church.

Mr. Tencza flew in 25 combat missions over France and Germany in a B-26 Marauder during World War II. During one mission he was shot down and was missing in action for four days before turning up in Paris. He loved to fly. Since his retirement from the Air Force, he logged more than 10,000 hours of flying time. He regularly flew and gave flying lessons out of Meriden-Markham Airport.

He is survived by three sons, Robert C. Tencza, of Meriden, Ronald J. Tencza and his wife, Terry, of Spring Hill, Fla., and William Tencza and his wife, Laura, of Fort Worth, Texas; four grandchildren, Tara Holzmiller and her husband, August, Robert J. Tencza and his wife, Danielle, Julie Klumas and her husband, Josh, and Ronald M. Tencza and his wife, Annabell; seven great-grandchildren, Brady, Mackenzie, and Brooklyn Holzmiller, Troy and Trent Klumas, and Julian E. and Alexandria Tencza; one sister, Genevieve Damm; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers, Benjamin, Edward, and John Tencza.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian burial to be held on Friday, April 1 at 10 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Church, 82 Akron St., Meriden. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the church. Burial with military honors will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Friends may call at the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 E. Main St., Meriden, on Thursday, March 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Stanislaus Church, 82 Akron St., Meriden, CT 06450. For online condolences, please visit www.jferryfh.com.